Humu's 135 refurbish

[Humuhumunuku]

There is no easy way to say this, so I'll just spit it out, my tank kinda sucks. There that feels better. So it is time to do something about it!

Lets start with the nitty gritty. Be gentle with me.

The Tank: just over 6 years old

• 135gallon all glass aquarium (or should I just call it aqueon now? either way, not made anymore) predrilled with 2 overflows 72x24x18 and large glass centerbrace
• megaflow model 4 wet/dry sump (bio balls removed as of 5min ago)
• Eheim model 1262return pump with single outlet
• Artica Titanium Chiller 1/10hp on Eheim model 1260
• 3x Maxijet 1200 hooked up to wavemaker powerstrip
• 6x24in compact fluorescent and a single 150w MH in center
• Red Sea C-Skim 1800 skimmer
• 250w heater
• run passive carbon
• dose Randy's 2 part calcium

Livestock:

• 1 sailfin tang (looks like something between "regular" and redsea)
• 1 Blackspot/swallowtail angelfish (was female, now male, still pretty)
• 1 maroon clown
• 1 green coris
• 1 sps of some kind (green slime?)
• 1 hammer coral
• several hairy mushrooms
• 4 ricordias
• a few leathers
• 2 pagodia corals
• some zoas, maybe pallys
• 4 rose anenomes
• not much of a pod population to speak of
• 2 scarlet cleaners
• 10ish pepperments
• 3 cucumbers, 2 serpents and and an array of snails/hermits

What I want to change:

1. new lights (in progress, pile of CREEs from rapidled just waiting to be soldered
2. new sump (probably 55g glass, maybe diy acrylic if I'm feeling brave)
3. refugium in said sump
4. Split return line at least once, maybe into 4
5. better circulation... probably an MP40 to start
6. GFO reactor and Carbon reactor
7. some type of carbon dosing (probably biopellets, may start with vodka)
8. switch to Kalk autotop off (just built auto top off switch, just need to buy Kalk and container!)

And there we have it, a lot of work to come. I can't do all of this at once due to both time and monitary constraints. Now the question is, what order do I prioritize these upgrades? The LEDs have been purchased so they will obviously be first, but I plan on spending the next 6months or so getting this baby looking beautiful like I know it can!

Pictures to come

[Matt Dean]

Good luck!

This is the order I would change things

new sump (probably 55g glass, maybe diy acrylic if I'm feeling brave)
new lights (in progress, pile of CREEs from rapidled just waiting to be soldered
refugium in said sump
GFO reactor and Carbon reactor
Split return line at least once, maybe into 4
better circulation... probably an MP40 to start
some type of carbon dosing (probably biopellets, may start with vodka)
switch to Kalk autotop off (just built auto top off switch, just need to buy Kalk and container!)

I would give the kalk a second thought, though. have heard so many stories of things going south because of kalk. Maybe consider a doser with 2-part to keep the parameters in check.

If you go with bio pellets. Start slow to avoid blooms or cyano.

[Humuhumunuku]

Yes it is my understanding that the GFO also must be introduced slowly to avoid shocking the tank with the sudden drop in phosphates.

I believe petco might still have their dollar per gallon sale, may try and snag a new sump there.

What are the risks of Kalk? Rasing pH too much? Must add a pH meter to the list of things I need, no more stupid reagent test.

[Humuhumunuku]

Update: grabbed a couple tanks from the one dollar sale for use as a sump. Discussing if it will work in the DIY forum.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...1#post19780581

[Humuhumunuku]

Also bought some propeller upgrade kits for the 1200s

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